Red Wings maximize time at home during holidays as NHL lockout hits 100-day mark

The lockout has enabled Red Wings forward Johan Franzen to spend more time with his 21-month-old son, Eddie Bo Johan.Ansar Khan/MLive

TROY – The Detroit Red Wings would have preferred taking an early morning flight to Raleigh on Wednesday to start a three-game road trip, as the original NHL schedule dictated.

But, since they remain locked out, they're happy to take advantage of their extended time at home with family and friends during the holidays.

Some of the Red Wings' Swedes are gathering Monday, the 100th day of the work stoppage, at Mikael Samuelsson's house for Christmas, which in their country is celebrated on Dec. 24.

“It's going to be a good time,'' Ericsson said. “We don't have to really rush into anything or think that we have a game (Wednesday). So that's going to be one thing that's positive about (the lockout).''

He'd much rather be playing. But the NHL has canceled all games through Jan. 14 and no talks are scheduled between the league and players union. If a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached by mid-January, at the latest, the season could be canceled.

“I don't know where this is going to end,'' Ericsson said. “Next time we're going to have a new CBA, what's going to happen then? ... Guys just want to play. It feels like it's more business than anything else.''

“I can't believe we've gotten to this point and we're still waiting on a deal,'' Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader said. “You got to go with it and make the most of the family time you get, being home.''

The time is going by excruciatingly slow as players continue skating a few times a week to be prepared for an abbreviated training camp they aren't certain will take place.

“I'm really bored. It gets old,'' Ericsson said. “You don't even know why you're on the ice. Am I doing this for a reason? The motivation goes up and down. When you hear something good happening, then you get motivated, and then you hear the talks break off and it's like, 'Why am I even on the ice?' ''

Samuelsson is happy to be home for the holidays with his 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter.

“You're being a normal parent now, I guess,'' Samuelsson said. “I'm staying busy with (his son's) hockey. You find other ways to fill your day, and I enjoy that.